United Methodist WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY

History In 1940, the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America established World-Wide Communion Sunday as a global, interdenominational event. Prompted by the impact of World War II, the Methodist Church received an offering on this Sunday for the Fellowship of Suffering and Service. In 1971, The United Methodist Church changed the name of the observance to World Communion Sunday and redistributed the offering to support the Crusade Scholarship Program (begun in 1944), the Ethnic Minority Scholarship Program, and the Division of Chaplains and Related Ministries. In 1980, Chaplains and Related Ministries was moved to World Service funding, but the World Communion Sunday offering continued to assist racial- and ethnic-minority people pursuing various avenues of ministry. The 2008 General Conference changed the name “Crusade Scholars” to “World Communion Scholars.” United Methodist WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY

World Communion Sunday goes beyond the sacrament. Your offering provides college scholarships for racial- and ethnic-minority students in the United States and for international students. World Communion Sunday calls the church to be “the catholic (universal) inclusive church.” United Methodist WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY

Your gifts are distributed as follows: Fifty percent of the offering provides scholarships for international and U.S. racial- and ethnic-minority graduate students (World Communion Scholars). Thirty-five percent of the receipts support ethnic scholarships for undergraduate students. Fifteen percent funds the Ethnic In- Service Training Program for racial- and ethnic-minority people seeking second careers in church-related vocations. United Methodist WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY

Your gifts support three vital programs. World Communion Scholarship Program – This program seeks to support international and U.S. racial- and ethnic-minority graduate students whose study focus will relate directly to mission and to the elimination of poverty, expansion of global health, leadership development or congregational development. Ethnic Scholarship Program – This program awards scholarships for Native American, Asian, African American, Hispanic and Pacific Islander applicants pursuing their first undergraduate degree. Ethnic In-Service Training Program – Funds for this program are designated for the recruitment, training and retention of ethnic United Methodists in leadership positions at every level of the church and its ministry. United Methodist WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY

Meet Ofelia Duldulao Ofelia Duldulao is a student at the University of the Philippines and a World Communion Sunday Scholarship recipient. She is preparing for a master’s degree in environmental education. “I am not a scholar of just another agency,” she said. “I am a scholar of the church, and I see myself working with the church and the community as long as I am able.” United Methodist WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY

Meet Marcus Simmons Marcus Simmons is a doctoral candidate in voice performance, pedagogy and literature at Indiana University and a World Communion Sunday Scholarship recipient. He plans to pursue a career as an educator and worship leader. Without the scholarship or the relationship with Global Ministries, he said, he could not complete his doctoral studies or be the best steward of his gifts. United Methodist WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY

Meet Elsa Noemi Meza Elsa Noemi Meza is a seminary student at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and a World Communion Sunday Scholarship recipient. She says her wish is to create a Chicago- based United Methodist Hispanic leadership program that “welcomes dialogue connections with Hispanic Christian women and other faith traditions.” United Methodist WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY

How you can help! Give online at Give through your local church. Write a check to your local church and identify it as “World Communion Sunday.” Place it in the offering plate or give it to your church treasurer. Give by mail: GCFA, P.O. Box , Nashville, TN United Methodist WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY

Learn more! Visit our website: General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, General Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY